The Duke'S Head

The Duke's Head is a public house at 8 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, occupying a large corner site. The building dates from 1864, with a circa 1894 extension and refurbishment by an architect unknown. It is constructed of stucco with channelled rustication at ground floor level.

The principal façade presents three storeys with a three-bay street frontage and a seven-bay return. The street façade contains 3/3 sash windows at first and second floor levels, each with moulded keystones and a continuous sill string course. At ground floor level are two fixed etched windows, one reading 'BRANDIES' and the other 'WINES AND SPIRITS'. An offset projecting porch with a mosaic floor reading 'THE DUKES HEAD' marks the entry. A blocked-in corner entrance to the public bar is visible. The return façade features casement windows at second floor level beneath a dentilled eaves cornice. Large transom first floor windows with segmental fanlights and stylised drip moulds with moulded keystones are set above recessed panels. At ground floor, there is one fixed etched window and two large transom windows with segmental fanlights. A narrow entrance and a recessed two-bay arcade entrance to the saloon bar are fitted with coloured mosaic floors and blue and brown glazed wall tiles. The river frontage follows the same fenestration sequence, with windows set on a curved corner. A basement entrance with tidal flood gates is surmounted by a plaque to Putney Rowing Club. Four pronounced chimney stacks rise from the roof. A single storey extension abuts the street façade alongside the grade II listed Winchester House.

The ground floor is divided into three areas: public and saloon bars and a large lounge. A large central servery with an island bar-back and modern gantry is situated between the public and saloon bars, with a small mirrored dumb-waiter rising from the bar counter and a glazed-in head to the cellar steps. Panels on the servery frontage retain locks that allowed servicing of beer engines. The three areas are separated by three screens of panelled and carved timber, and etched and cut glass. A reduced height service door connects the public and saloon bars, while a huge etched window separates the saloon bar from the lounge. Two screens from the public bar have been removed, but joinery on the bar counter shows where they were formerly attached. Etched and cut glazing is carried through internal and external doors and passageways, with a door at the bottom of the stairs reading 'CLUB ROOM', indicating the previous use of first floor rooms. The saloon bar contains a small fireplace with a wooden surround, whilst the lounge contains two large fireplaces with marble surrounds. The lounge and some areas of the public and saloon bars retain their cornices and decorated friezes. The lounge also features a large modern servery unit.

The first floor, now used for staff accommodation and WCs, was previously used as a club room and contains a large marble fireplace in the room over the lounge. The cellar contains a now disused skittles alley and storage space that was used by Putney Rowing Club to store its boats between 1929 and 1986.

A public house is thought to have stood on this site since 1774, but the current building dates from an 1864 rebuild, with circa 1894 extension and interior remodelling.